Projected Needs

Category 200 - Laboratory Space

While the same process was used for the detailed program and CEFPI, four additional calculations were used to specify the needs for certain laboratories. Additional calculations were made for computer labs, project rooms, undergraduate research space and special use labs.

Normally only a portion of the contact hours are actually recorded in a scheduling system. Therefore, the consultants prefer to use credit hours in determining laboratory requirements. A process similar to that described in appendix B of the CEFPI guidelines was used in estimating the WSCHs for class and computer laboratories.

The combined fiscal year 2015 space requirement is approximately 673,000 ASF, or approximately 288,000 ASF more than the 385,000 ASF that is currently available. The university will lose approximately 95,000 ASF of labs with the removal of Kell and Sparks halls. Therefore, the total additional need is 383,000 ASF. Even with the construction of the two proposed science buildings providing a total of 154,000 ASF, nearly 230,000 additional ASF will be required by 2015.

Table 4.12 Laboratory space
*includes Undergraduate research space

2.1 Teaching Laboratory (211/212/220) and Service Space (215/225)

The guidelines set by CEFPI outline a range of space and utilization factors based on the nature of the academic program. Georgia State’s laboratory space falls into two categories: Group B, which generally includes physical sciences, and biological sciences, and Group C, which generally includes the health professions. The majority of the space is Group B.

A similar approach was used in the detailed space program process, with generic room layouts created to calculate ASF/Student Station for each of the unique lab types. Specific occupancy and utilization factors, within the range of those allowed in the CEFPI guidelines were also developed for each lab type.

The FY 2015 space requirement is approximately 283,500 ASF, an increase of more than100,000 ASF. This growth is due to projected enrollment increases, much of which will create more demand for art, biology, chemistry, hospitality administration, music, and nursing laboratories.

2.2 Non-Class Lab Research (250) and Service Space (255)

Research laboratory and service space is calculated in the CEFPI guidelines as a percentage of each discipline’s faculty, graduate students and research scientists working at any one time. These percentages are then applied to a discipline laboratory module size per researcher, ranging from 40 ASF for some of the social science programs to 325 ASF for several biological and physical sciences.

This generalized approach was expanded to be more specific to each discipline. Two major additions to the CEFPI formula were incorporated into the calculations (Other Room/Lab Types). Special use labs such as NMR’s, pilot plants, herbariums, etc. were handled separately. In addition, space for undergraduate research was considered for several disciplines such as biology and chemistry. Undergraduate research is a significant area of growth at Georgia State, but was almost unknown in 1985 when the teaching space calculation formulas were created. The space for undergraduate research totals nearly 9,000 ASF for 2010 and 12,000 ASF for 2015.

Georgia State currently has approximately 136,796 ASF in research labs with a calculated need of approximately 295,000 ASF in 2015, doubling the amount of currently available space.

There is no calculation in the CEFPI guidelines for individual study space. Georgia State has approximately 7,700 ASF of this space which will satisfy its need through 2015. The consultants have removed most of the computer labs from this category in order to account for the scheduled and open use of computer labs.

2.3 Other Lab Types (260, 280)

In addition to the standard lab types listed, the consultants prefer a more in-depth analysis using special room types for teaching and research activities. These include computer labs, project rooms, and special-use labs.

Computer lab projections are similar to those of teaching labs but normally use a longer day period (WRHs) in the calculations. The formulas however take into account unscheduled use. Normally, a portion of the WSCHs generated from credit hours is allotted to computer lab use. This will vary by discipline. While Georgia State currently has 53,500 ASF in its computer labs, by 2015 the need will increase to approximately 60,000 ASF.

Project rooms were never considered in 1985 when the CEFPI guidelines were developed. These rooms have become an important part of the educational delivery system for several disciplines including history, sociology, finance, management, marketing, economics and public administration. Normally, a room of approximately 250 ASF is allotted for faculty and students to work on projects relating to their academic discipline. Georgia State has a current deficit of more than 4,000 ASF in project rooms. This deficit will increase to nearly 6,000 ASF by 2015.

Special use labs with specialized equipment such as NMRs have been identified for biology and chemistry which total 15,500 ASF for 2010 and 18,000 ASF for 2015. These are part of the space calculations for biology and chemistry.